Portable desk chair



April 13, 1965 R. H. KAAKE 3,178,220

PORTABLE DESK CHAIR Filed Oct. 14, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I 6 I 1 l l 19 i. A? 34 I g V:

l 16 l +47 7 1 L I 3/? *3 43 April 13, 1965 R. H. KAAKE PORTABLE DESK CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1963 April 13, 1965 R. H. KAAKE PORTABLE DESK CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 0013. 14, 1965 WWmM [yea/ United States Patent Office 3,178,220 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 3,178,220 PORTABLE DESK CHAIR Ray H. Kaake, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Northrop Corporation, Beverly Hills, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 315,836 3 (Ziaims. (Cl. 297-156) The present invention relates to an improved foldable desk and chair combination that is ideally functional for general use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-weight yet sturdy desk and chair combination having an improved unified chair and desk support by which means the desk and chair can be folded into a thin, flat, compact package that requires only a minimum of storage space.

It is another object of the present invent-ion to provide a foldable desk and chair combination of simple construction that is relatively easy to operate.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a desk and chair combination of pleasing appearance that can be manufactured and sold for a modest price.

Other objectives and advantages inherent in the present invention will be appreciated as the specification continues.

Briefly, one preferred embodiment of the present invention, when unfolded for occupancy, takes the form of a horizontally disposed desk top and chair seat supported in fixed relative position adjacent and below the desk top. A vertical support is provided for the desk top and a vertical support likewise is provided for the chair seat. each support being pivotally attached to its respective horizontal member.

An elongated bar or strut unites the vertical supports and horizontal members and by means of a movable sleeve mounted for travel in either direction along the strut that can be reciprocated to fold or unfold the desk top and chair seat between open or occupiable position and a folded storable position wherein the desk top and chair seat and the vertical supports therefor are angularly moved into parallel with the strut to form a compact fiat package of relatively thin profile.

The construction and function of the present improved desk and chair combination will be more easily understood with reference to the following detailed specification and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of a side elevation of the present invention unfolded for occupancy.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the invention as shown from above the view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the end elevation of the present invention in its storable or folded position as seen from the front of the desk.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the side elevation of the present invention as seen from the left of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the end elevation of the present invention in its storable or folded position as seen from the rear of the chair seat.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the chair and desk combination of FIGURE 1, overturned to expose the underside thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the underside of an alternative construction of the chair and desk combination of the present invention.

The desk and chair combination of the present invention, according to one preferred embodiment, is chararterized by a desk top 5 supported adjacent to its forward edge by a support frame 6 constructed of side members that serve as the desk legs 7. A fixed cross-brace 8 joins the desk legs 7 adjacent their lower ends.

The desk top 5 is further provided with a pair of elongated clevis brackets 9 and 19 fastened to the underside thereof, one bracket 9 being located adjacent to the forward edge of the desk top 5 and extending parallel therewith, the other bracket 19 being located adjacent the rearward edge of the desk top and extending parallel therewith.

A chair seat 15 is pivotally attached at its rearward edge to a vertical support frame 16 comprising vertical side members defining legs 17. A lug is mounted on each side member 17 approximately midway between their ends, each lu-g being pierced with a hole through which a pin 19 is inserted, the pin extending into the adjacent side edge of the chair seat 15 for pivotal movement therewith.

A panel 20, preferably curved or contoured is fastened between the side members 17 above the chair seat 15 and forms the backrest therefor.

To folda-bly join the chair and desk together, an elongated strut 23 is provided at each end thereof with crossbars 24 and 25 welded or otherwise securely fastened thereto adjacent and offset with respect to the center of the desk top 5. The cross bar 24 on one end of strut 23 is pivotally fastened between the lugs 26 of the clevis bracket 9, the crossbar 25 at the other end being piv-- otally fastened between chair legs 17 adjacent the lower end thereof.

A slidable sleeve 30 is provided on strut 23 and has pivotally attached to the end thereof adjacent desk top 5 toggle bars or links 31 and 32, the free ends of the outer pair 31 being pivotally and respectively attached to the lugs 27 at each end of the clevis bracket 10. Liwardly of toggle links 31, the second pair of toggle links 32 pivotally attached to sleeve 30, have their free ends pivotally attached to lugs 33 provided on leg brace 34 fastened between desk legs 7 approximately midway between the ends thereof.

A contoured support member 35 is fastened to the underside of chair seat 15, one end of the member extending slightly beyond the forward edge of the seat 15 and pierced to accommodate a pin 36 extending through support member 35 and sleeve 30 for relative pivotal movement there'between.

A second support member 37 is fastened to the underside of seat 15 adjacent to the edge of the outer side thereof and, similar to curved support member 35, extends slightly beyond the forward edge of'seat 15, and is pierced to accommodate a pin 38 by which means member 37 is pivotally fastened to the opposite side of sleeve As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, sleeve 30 can be made of any suitable rigid material such as aluminum or stainless steel sheet and is U-shaped in cross-section, the lower edges of the sides 40 being joggled inwardly around the strut 23 and there pierced to accommodate pins or rivets 41 to prevent the sleeve 30 from being accidentally separated or disengaged from strut 23.

It will be noted from the drawings of FIGURES 2, 3 and 5 that desk legs 7 preferably are slightly curved or joggled at their upper ends fastened between the lugs 26 of clevis bracket 9 to facilitate greater compactness. It will further be noted that toggle links 31 and 32 are curved to various radii to promote the suitable geometry whereby moving sleeve 30 in one direction, upwardly, toward the left corner as viewed in FIGURE 1, will draw the lower end of desk support frame 6 angularly toward strut 23, while drawing the rearward edge of desk top 5 angularly downwardly and to the left, toward strut 23. At .the same time chair support frame 16 moving upwardly with sleeve 30 draws the upper end of chair support frame 16 angularly downwardly and to the left around pivot 43 defined by cross-bar 25 pivotally fastened between the lower ends of side member 17, toward strut 23, When sleeve 30 is moved as far as it will go toward bracket 9, it will be seen that chair seat 15 and the support frame 16 therefor, an-d'desk top and the support frame 6 therefor, are all collapsed into a generally parallel, folded relationship as shown in FIGURE 4 which, viewed from the side provides a relatively flat, thin package for storage.

Ideally, the desk top 5 and chair seat can be fabricated of plywood, suitably finished, stained and polished in any desired style. However, formed plastic or metallic materials are also suitable materials.

It is found that support frame members 7, 8 and 17, toggle links 31, 32, and sleeve 30 are preferably fabri cated and formed of extruded aluminum angle stock, although stainless steel or other equivalent material will undoubtedly serve as well.

The remaining brackets and braces can be formed of aluminum or stainless steel sheet metal.

The strut-23 and cross-bars 25 and 26 perform most satisfactorily if fabricated of solid aluminum bar stock but other material of equivalent strength and rigidity will suffice.

The geometrical relationships between the sleeve 30 and toggle links 31 and 32 are simple to understand and alternative equivalent lever and link motions are well within the knowledge of skilled artisans.

While the chair seat 15 described and illustrated herein is basically square with the forward edge and side thereof opposite the mounting of strut 23 is rounded for the comfort and accommodation of an occupant, other contours, shapes or outlines will readily occur to designers and furniture builders.

As shown in FIGURE 7, a perhaps simplified construction of the desk and chair combination can be made using U-shaped support frames 60 and 61 of uniform size and dimensions for the desk panel 63 and chair panel 64 respectively. As shown, the support frame 61 is simply inverted relative to the desk frame 60. There is no necessity for repeating the detailed description of the strut, slidable sleeve and links in this embodiment as no change of geometry or relationship with respect to the support frames is necessary.

The construction and function of the present invention is highly functional and utilitarian, suitable for gen! eral use in homes, oflices, churches and the classroom.

Thus it is-not intended to limit the present invention to the construction and features necessarily described above with reference to the appended drawings, but to the spirit and scope of the claims that follow, as viewed in light of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

l. A foldable desk panel and chair combination that comprises:

(a) a first horizontally disposed member, defining a desk panel,

(b) a second horizontally disposed member defining a seat panel positioned opposite to and a desired distance below said desk panel,

being inverted relative thereto so that its bight rests on the floor; said second support frame for said seat panel being positioned relative thereto with its bight above said panel to define a back rest; the opposite ends of the frame resting on the floor.

3. A foldable desk and chair combination that comprises:

(a) a first horizontally disposed panel defining a desk (b) a second horizontally disposed panel defining a chair seat positioned opposite to and a desired distance below said first panel, a

(c) a support frame for said first panel and having at least two vertical side members defining parallel legs, one pivotally attached to the underside of said panel adjacent to each side edge thereof,

(:1) a support frame for said second panel and having at least two vertical side members defining parallel legs, one pivotally attached to said panel on each side edge thereof,

(e) an elongated strut having a cross-bar at each end thereof, the cross-bar at one end thereof being pivotally attached between said side members of said support frame for said first panel adjacent to the underside thereof, the cross-bar on the opposite end of said strut being pivotally attached between said side members of said support frame for said second panel adjacent to the lower ends thereof,

(f) a sleeve slidably mounted on said strut,

(g) at least one toggle link for each of said panels and pivotally connected at one end thereof to said sleeve,

, the other end being pivotally attached to said panels, said first and second panels being foldable into parallel relationship with said strut by reciprocation of said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent .UNITED STATES PATENTS 88,921 Snow Apr. 13, 1869 2,486,468 Freedman Nov. 1, 1949 2,572,585 Barber Oct. 23, 1951 2,991,122 Boo July 4, 19 61 FOREIGN PATENTS 877,660 Germany May 26, 1933 1,159,387 France Feb. 10, 1958 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FOLDABLE DESK PANEL AND CHAIR COMBINATION THAT COMPRISES: (A) A FIRST HORIZONALLY DISPOSED MEMBER, DEFINING A DESK PANEL, (B) A SECOND HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED MEMBER DEFINING A SEAT PANEL POSITIONED OPPOSITE TO AND A DESIRED DISTANCE BELOW SAID DESK PANEL, (C) VERTICAL SUPPORT FRAMES PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANELS AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, AND (D) AN ELONGATED STRUT INTERCONNECTING SAID VERTICAL SUPPORTS AND HAVING A SLIDABLE SLEEVE THEREON INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANELS, SAID SLEEVE BEING TO SIMULTANEOUSLY PIVOT SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANELS ANGULARLY WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER INTO PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID STRUT TO FORM A FLAT, COMPACT PACKAGE HAVING A RELATIVELY THIN PROFILE. 